diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/kokkos/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/kokkos/package.py
index 22fa7709e23..1d8a41c22de 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/kokkos/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/kokkos/package.py
@@ -217,6 +217,11 @@ def setup_dependent_package(self, module, dependent_spec):
 
     def cmake_args(self):
         spec = self.spec
+
+        if spec.satisfies('~wrapper+cuda') and not spec.satisfies('%clang'):
+            raise InstallError("Kokkos requires +wrapper when using +cuda"
+                               "without clang")
+
         options = []
 
         isdiy = "+diy" in spec